Avoid these skincare mistakes now so you can greet the New Year with a glowing complexion
SINGAPORE (Dec 2): At the end of every year and the beginning of a new one, we tend to take stock of our lives and the resolutions we made. Among other things, we will admit to breaking our thrice-a-week exercise routine and getting lazy about our skincare regime. It is always easier to talk about something than to actually do it.
For the new year, instead of making resolutions, we can work on correcting what we have been doing wrong and look for solutions.
One of the most common steps in our skincare routine is cleansing. While this is a good habit to keep, there is one thing you may be doing wrong.
Leaving your skin bare for more than a minute after cleansing can actually dehydrate it pretty badly. This is the window of time when your pores are the most susceptible to the loss of moisture because they are open from the cleansing process.
If you are getting a tight and dry feeling in your skin, you need to do things differently.
Gentle, alcohol-free toners from SW1 such as the Aloe Cucumber Rebalancing Facial Toner and moisturisers such as the Luminizing II are the perfect products for Steps 2 and 3 after facial cleansing to retain the moisture in your skin and give you a dewy, radiant complexion.
Another skincare sin most of us commit is neglecting our neck, as we pay way much more attention to the face. The neck is arguably the area where signs of ageing show first.
One of the latest introductions to SW1’s anti-aging stable of products is the Nefertiti Facelift, a call-to-action for all guilty of “neck-gligence”.
Dr Low Chai Ling, founder and medical director of SW1 Clinic, says: “Not taking care of your neck area can cause lines and loose skin that make you look old, and can also affect your jawline, causing facial sag as well. The Nefertiti Facelift is designed to diminish the appearance of these age aggressors, by way of collagen-producing and muscle-relaxing micro-injections that you will barely feel.”
Another common beauty blunder you might be making comprises two extremes: the lack of sun protection or your over-reliance on it.
The sun has been proven to be a leading cause of accelerated ageing, contributing to every other skin ailment, from hyperpigmentation to wrinkles.
Not using UV protection can spell disaster for your skin and expose you to a slew of skin ailments — but, then again, do not count on sunscreen to work miracles too.
Making it a habit to step out of the house with sun protection is good, but it is also rather misleading to think you will be fully shielded from UV harm.
The truth is that sunscreen products lose their effect after two hours, after which reapplication is required. Reports of high-SPF products boasting better coverage have been exaggerated too, with studies showing none providing complete UV protection.
It is ideal to keep your sun protection bases covered internally and externally. A product such as Gene Therapy complements sun protection, as it goes right into your DNA to repair sun-induced DNA damage, replacing and replenishing it for healthier skin.
So, make your New Year beauty regime resolution now and see a difference in the coming year.
SW1 Clinic is located at
290 Orchard Road
#13-01-#13-06 Paragon
OUE Downtown Gallery
Tower 2
6A Shenton Way #02-19/20
For enquiries, call 6817 8888 or visit www.sw1clinic.com to find out more
